Planning Commission votes to block release of bond for Oaks on Hope Furnace

The Coventry Planning Commission voted Feb. 26 to deny a requested bond release for the Oaks on Hope Furnace subdivision, following staff concerns about stormwater work in Phase 1 and correspondence from the applicant’s attorney.

Commissioners said they were reluctant to release funds while some stormwater-related work remained unresolved. Planning staff and the applicant’s counsel exchanged written materials before the meeting; the applicant’s representative told the commission the infrastructure in the first phase was complete and argued that the holdback — described in the staff packet at roughly $893,000 — was no longer warranted.

The commission’s discussion focused on whether outstanding stormwater items justified holding the bond. One commissioner said the matter “almost seems like it’s turning into a legal matter” and moved to deny the release. The motion was seconded and approved in a roll-call vote in which the following commissioners voted “aye”: Mr. Kenny; Mr. Reyes; Mr. Price; Mr. Studley; Mr. Anderson; Mr. Kolunian; and Chairman Cameron Flynn. The roll call recorded seven ayes to deny release.

Planning staff had no additional remarks at the meeting beyond its written report. The applicant’s attorney told the commission that engineers had inspected the site and that some items dated back several months, but that the contractor and engineers were working toward resolution as snow receded.

There was no public comment at the meeting on the bond reduction. The commission did not specify a schedule for resolving the remaining stormwater concerns or a deadline for reapplying for release. The record includes written correspondence from the applicant’s counsel and the planning department’s staff report.

Next steps: The applicant may return to the commission with documentation addressing the stormwater and other outstanding items; the commission’s action leaves the bond in place pending further documentation or resolution.

Votes at a glance: Motion to deny release of bond for the Oaks on Hope Furnace subdivision — motion moved by (not specified in the transcript), seconded by Mr. Reyes; roll-call vote: Kenny (aye), Reyes (aye), Price (aye), Studley (aye), Anderson (aye), Kolunian (aye), Flynn (aye); tally: 7 yes, 0 no. Note: the transcript contains a brief, potentially inadvertent, statement by the chair at the end of the roll call; the roll call itself shows seven votes in favor of denying the release.